Chapter I. Renaissance Boy

How to Catch a Dream Chapter I begins with a simple question: what if you could capture your dreams like memories on tape? This first chapter introduces Wellar, a gifted teen haunted by the loss of his father. Determined to hold onto his fading memories, he begins building a strange device—a dream-catching machine. The inspiration comes from a theory about the “silver cord,” a thread said to connect our physical body to our astral self. Wellar believes it can record what we see and feel while dreaming. At first, the machine seems to work. But soon, strange images appear. Wellar sees a message he didn’t write—and it’s not meant just for him. Something is hiding in the dreams. Something watching. As he digs deeper, he realizes he’s not just remembering the past—he may be unlocking a secret someone wants to keep buried. This opening chapter blends mystery, sci-fi, and emotional storytelling. It’s retro yet timeless. Think Stranger Things meets Inception, with a dash of Paper Girls.